Back at it...

Finally things have slowed down...and I have found time to use my scrapping stuff! Found a few fun sheets of coordinating DP and hauled out some old stamps, bought a new one, and the ideas began flowing. Here is what I have to show for the last 24 hours...not much...but I am glad to be back at it! The stamps in the top one are from a Unity Stamp Co Kit of the Month, I think it was February of 2010, the middle one is from My Favorite Things, and the bottom card was made with a new Itty Bitty set, also from Unity, sold at Archiver's. Coloring was all done with Copics...lots of sewing, layering, and nestabilities, and my windowsill is lined with some cheery cards to inspire me to get moving on some more projects!

Things just gotta match!!

I have been looking for a better solution than CD cases for my clear and unmounted stamps for some time, and I am thrilled that Stampin' Up sells these clear ones in bulk. They latch shut so I will never lose another micro-Papertrey stamp because it wasn't stuck down securely, and they fit cling stamps on BOTH sides without crushing them. But my one reservation was that I like all of my sets to look somewhat uniform, so I copied the font and layout of the SU clear stamp labels and dusted off my Microsoft Publisher skills, and made some labels!

I stole a few images from the websites if available, (this really doesn't give me any guilt...I bought their stamps already!) and copied the photo onto the label. This one I am showing you is for my case for Whipper Snapper chickens, if I ever get more, I can print a sheet for the back, or even stamp the reverse of the label with the new stamps.

So, I printed it out and trimmed it down to size, then I added a decorative strip of DP. At first, I was going to make them all the same color, but then decided that I kind of like the idea of a bunch of fun papers, and this way I *might* remember what color a set is, so I can find it faster.

Next I scored the spine edge, and voila!

A perfect label...clean and simple, and best of all easy! With about 50 sets to go, I shouldn't be here typing away, but I wanted to share my idea. If you have MS Publisher, just send me an email at papercanoes@gmail.com and I would be glad to share the file and trimming instructions with you!

Non-Stamping Project!

This is my other project...meet Willow, one of our little hedgehogs! We have 4 hedgies now, and eventually we will be having baby hedgies!! I used to raise them years ago, and recently went to Kansas to pick up these little prickly things. Willow is a Cinnacot Pinto, a fairly rare color, which makes her seem softer than she really is!

Anyway, I thought I would share a little part of my world that is not stamping related! Though I do actually have some paper-crafting ideas for decorating the outsides of the cages with name labels. :)

Baby Thank-yous

I am so excited to be stamping again! I just did this set of 12 thank-you cards for a shower gift. Of course it's a baby girl...and the mom is an adorable trendy girl, so pink and brown just seemed to be perfect! I changed them all up a tiny bit with the die cuts and embossing folders, but theyare mainly unform in appearance. Pink Pirouette is the embossed base, with Choc Chip frames and Java Versamagic ink just makes the bunny (CTMH) look soft! A little ribbon and a brad, with PTI Mixed Messages sentiments complete this little gift set. The only thing better than an adorable, fun card, is a whole pile of them! I just loved doing these, and had to share pics of them in progress, as well as the completed collection before boxing them up. I am decorating a gable box to match for them to go in...hopefully I will love that too when it's done...if so, I will post pics! Just buyinga dozen stamps, and a cute brown gel pen to throw in, and it's a cute, useable baby gift! :)

More pics of my end of the family room!

I'm Back!!

Ok...NOW the basement is done! We finally put the floor and lighting in, and so all I have left to do is find time to use this fun space!! I began college this fall, and with all the projects...well, scrapping has taken a back seat. I have quite a few ideas I will be jumping into next week, though!! So back to SCS looking for more inspiration!

Garden Boot

It's great to be creating again...now I remember how I came up with ideas...once I make one card then I end up using the same stamp set again, or scraps left over and it's a never-ending cycle! I love it! I just did this card for the Splitcoast challenge to do a summer activity theme, and since I still had the Papertrey set out, I went with gardening of course! I love these colors, Ruby Red and a minty-aqua, the inks are Versamagic brick Red and Aqua. A little sewing, a little ribbon and a button, and it's done!

Sweet Pea

Finally, I am creating again! I found inspiration in this weeks Sketch & CAS Challenges on Splitcoast and came up with this simple summer card! The stamps are Papertrey Green Thumb, and the paper is SU Celery and Wasabi. I added a few dew drops for the peas and it really made it come alive! This was my first time trying a different brand of embossing folders, both the dot backgrounds were done with Quickutz folders. They seem to leave a shallower but sharper impression than the Cuttlebug brand, but I love what they have come up with and will definitely be buying more! Anyway, this would be a great card as a thank-you for some garden veggies (I do have someone in mind!!), or even a baby card!